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I smiled at her, “As soon as I manage to take off my jeans.”
She slowly moved off my legs and said, “Let me help you with that.”
Then she pulled off my jeans, and I knew from that simple gesture I had to tell her soon about me not being a single daddy because I didn’t want Ivy in my life just so that she could stay over once in a while. I wanted more than that, and I knew that time wouldn’t make any difference in my thoughts about our relationship. I had a feeling that she felt the same way, but a conversation would prove it. Right now, I needed to get her in the shower. Just so I could make her soaking wet all over again.
Chapter Ten
Ivy
I had to work from home today with my car being in the garage. I could have called a taxi, but I felt like walking. The last few days I’d hardly been out for a jog or done any exercise. It seemed to be the only exercising that my body had been experiencing was in the bedroom with Chad.
I could call him and ask him what he was up to today. I had a feeling that maybe we were spending too much time together because he wanted to get out and work or even invest in something but so far that time seemed to be spent with me.
Shit, I’d never had a relationship, and neither of us had said that we were officially dating. He had introduced me to a couple of his friends. They were nice, but never his sister and that always bugged me.
I’d done the same with Willow and Chloe when she came to town to visit. She was my best friend back in the law firm in Chicago, and it was great catching up with her on all the gossip in the office. But for the first time in the year that I moved back home I didn’t miss Chicago. I didn’t even hate my job so much. The crazy part about it is that I’m enjoying it.
Hazel’s getting older and we seem to connect more and part of me wishes that I didn’t rush back to work. Mom has said it so many times and I never really understood it until now. This is the time that I would never get back. I’d even thought about maybe going part-time. God knows I didn’t need to be in the office this much. I could do some things at home, or even b just cut down my hours. Tomorrow when I go back in, if they’ve sorted out the leak, then I may suggest it to one of the partners. If they’re not game, I still may leave. There’s more to life than working and I didn’t need the money. Being at home could save me the money that I need for the preschool fees. Too many things to think about and not enough time.
I decided to pop into Starbucks. I felt like a coffee and maybe just hanging out there for a little while before going home. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Joshua’s stroller heading in the same direction. I thought that there could only be one person pushing it. If it wasn’t Chad, then it had to be his sister Olivia.
I ran up to him and her, but maybe Chad wasn’t ready to introduce us. Shit, what the heck? I was only going to say hello to her.
“Hi,” I said as I got to the front door of Starbucks.
Her eyes darted from me to her friend. Or it could have been her mom? They had the same sparkling hazel eyes and even short haired bob, but the weird part was she had Joshua but not her daughter. The one that I’d never got to meet.
“Sorry, do we know you?” The taller woman with gray hair and her dark-shaped bob said. It felt as if everyone in their family was good looking. I could see it in Joshua with his bright hazel eyes. Funny, I never thought about it until now, but he had the same shade of eyes as Olivia, not Chad.
I shook my head, “No, but I know Joshua’s dad, and I just saw you so I thought that I would come over and say hello.”
“Brent? You know him?”
The woman asked, the one that I assumed was Olivia, so I asked for clarification.
“Olivia, right?”
She nodded, but I could see the confusion written all over her face. To make matters worse, customers were trying to get out of Starbucks, and I was blocking the door.
“No, I know Chad. Joshua’s dad,” I laughed nervously as I could hear someone on the other side tapping on the door telling me to move.
I did that, and then the elderly woman said, “But Brent is Joshua’s dad and Chad’s…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Olivia said. “Nice to meet you. You’re Ivy I take it. Chad’s told me so much about you. This is my mom. She just came back from her cruise, so I haven’t been able to fill her in on everything.”
I moved out of the way and the customers that were trying to leave Starbucks passed by us, but couldn’t help but give me a piece of their mind. I ignored them as I watched Olivia’s mom and Olivia exchange looks. There was something wrong, and the moment I mentioned Joshua’s dad, his mom had asked if I knew Brent? Who was Brent?
I smiled at her, but I felt as if there was a conspiracy and Olivia was in the loop, but her mom wasn’t.
“Did you have a nice cruise?”
My question was directed at her mom, but Olivia answered for her.
“Yes, she did.”
“But Olivia, is Brent in touch or something? I don’t understand why this woman…sorry, is it Ivy?”
I nodded my head, so she continued speaking. I could tell that Olivia felt uncomfortable as she turned a bright shade of red.
“Mom, let’s get you inside. You look tired,” Olivia smiled at her.
“Well, I’m going to Starbucks, too. Maybe we can share a table or something?”
Olivia blurted out, “No.”
Whereas her mom, who wanted answers as I did, said the complete opposite, “Yes.”
That was when things started to get even stranger. Olivia took me to the side, as quick as lightning; I walked away from her mom and Joshua in confusion.
“Ivy. I am so sorry about my brother. You need to talk to Chad. I just lost my job. My mom just came home, and I need to speak to her.”
The thing that was bugging me the most wasn’t just about the fact that there was something wrong with this picture. I knew that Chad was lying to me. It was clear by the way that both Olivia and her mom mentioned Brent. So, where did Chad fit in all of this?
“Olivia, where’s your daughter? I mean if you’re out with Joshua. Why would you take your nephew and leave your daughter alone? I don’t even know her name.”
She sighed, “Please talk to Chad.”
“But your daughter?” I questioned as she left my side.
Her mom answered the question for me, “Daughter? Olivia doesn’t have a daughter, just Joshua.”
Olivia sighed, “Mom. Let’s get inside.”
The picture was starting to get clearer by the minute. Their mom had answered the question for me. Chad and Olivia were sister and brother. Which could only mean that Chad was his uncle, not his dad. All this time, he’d been playing me for a fool, and I’d gone along for the ride. I was fed up with men treating me as if I was foolish. He was the bad boy that I didn’t want in my life. I should have stayed away, but I didn’t. I walked like a zombie from The Walking Dead all the way back home wondering whether I should tell Chad that I found out his dirty little secret or whether to just keep the fuck away from him. The thing that I should have done, the first moment I laid eyes on him.
Chapter Eleven
Chad
Ivy was going to be fucking impressed with my culinary skills today. Mom was back from her cruise, and when I told her that I had been taking culinary lessons, she was pretty impressed. I did want to cook her lunch, but she was in town with Olivia. Apparently, having a girlie day out. I offered to look after Joshua, but mom wanted to spend time with him.
It didn’t sound like much of a girlie day out when they usually just spend too much time hanging out at Starbucks. I swear that place is an automatic magnet for moms and the retired. They always seem to want to hang out there.
I sent Ivy a text telling her that when she finishes work she should come to mine with Hazel. Sometimes I wonder if she has her phone in her hand all day waiting for my text. She usually replies in about ten seconds. Today, nothing and it has been nearly four hours since I sent it.
I shook my head about my paranoia, but I just couldn’t help it. I’d spent the last three months calling or texting, and she would reply straight away. What had happened today?
